Page 43 of Chronicles of a Rockin' Mess

“OK, what’s my favorite movie?” I ask her.

“Superman, the one with Christopher Reeves.”

“What’s my favorite sport?”

She rolls her eyes. “Trick question because you don’t really like sports, but if I had to pick, probably soccer,” she answers.

“Damn, you are good,” I say to her. She shrugs.

“What about my favorite cartoon character?” I ask, thinking I’ll stump her.

“Well, your favorite cartoon show is the Smurfs, but your favorite character is Daffy Duck.”

“OK, what’s your favorite cartoon?” I ask her.

“My favorite cartoon show is Scooby-Doo. My favorite cartoon character is Garfield,” she says. “My favorite movie is The Notebook. My favorite sport is hockey. My favorite food is lasagna, just like Garfield. What else you got?”

“Well, shit…I feel like a totally shitty boss now.”

“To be fair, Lincoln, it’s my job to know everything about you. You just have to remember how to sign my paychecks,” she says wryly.

“That’s not fair, baby bird. I do know some things about you. I know you love horror movies and romantic comedies. I know the basics about your family, and you coming out to LA to sing when you were eighteen. I know you hate olives and love hot peppers. I know you detest heavy metal music. I know you once won a pumpkin pie eating contest at a county fair. Oh, and I know you had a pet goldfish named Henry that you won at that same county fair.”

Her eyes are wide at my words. “Well, wonders never cease.”

“I’m a jackass, but I…do care,” I say as I run my hand through my hair. It’s a nervous habit.

“I-I never said you didn’t care, Lincoln,” she stammers. She sits up and reaches out for my arm, squeezing it, and my nerve endings light up with the need to feel more of her. “You just…suck at showing it. And you can be an ass.” With that, she releases my hand and walks to the front of the bus where she gets on her phone. I have no idea who she calls, but it’s clear that our game is over.

Lark

“Hey,” I say as Mimi answers the phone.

“Hey, my sweet gal. How’s it goin’?” I can hear lots of noise in the background.

“Am I catching you at a bad time?” I ask her.

“Hell no. I’m just using my shakin’ weight thing. You are on speakerphone.”

“Oh, if you are working out, I can call back later,” I say to her.

“No, no. Hold on, let me turn down the music,” she says. “It’s Larkie, honey.”

“Hey!” Hank’s voice chimes in.

“Hi, Hank. I’ll be seeing you in a few days, right?”

“Absolutely, suga. I’m just fixin’ to go down and meet the boys now for some practice,” The fact that he calls his bandmates boys makes me smile.

“Well, tell everyone I said hello, and I can’t wait to see them in a few days,” I reply.

“Will do,” he says. “You still are gonna sing a few with us, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say to him because it’s true.

“So, what’s up, baby girl?” Mimi asks.

I glance back at Lincoln. He’s got his headphones on, and his eyes closed. I turn back around.

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